Farmers in Juye, Shandong reap tech powered rewards

With the wide application of advanced agricultural technologies, farmers in Longgu town, Juye county, Heze, Shandong have found that farming is becoming easier.

In early spring, you are greeted by a sense of modernity as you enter Longlin Industrial Park in Longgu town: neatly arranged metal tanks, crisscrossing pipelines of different specifications, flashing signals on electrical control cabinets, faint buzzing sounds from running motors, and blueberries in the greenhouses entering the ripening stage. Plump blueberries hang from the branches, emitting an enticing fruity aroma. New farmers are busy picking and packaging blueberries for the market.

"With just a tap of a button on the remote control, we can get a clear view of the environmental parameters inside each greenhouse and the growth status of the blueberry plants. This digital system is like having a professional agricultural expert guiding us at all times," said Hao Yawen, the person in charge of the blueberry plantation.

With 80,000 blueberry plants managed by the digital brain daily, the per-mu (0.067 hectares) yield of blueberries has exceeded 80,000 yuan ($11,051.36), leading to an annual average income increase of 24,000 yuan for over 700 surrounding households.

"The digital brain has allowed us to achieve a staggered market entry, bringing significant economic benefits to surrounding farmers. More than 130 local farmers are working at the base every day, with an expected annual income exceeding 100 million yuan and an additional revenue of over 7 million yuan for surrounding farmers," said Li Chuanlong, the person in charge of Longlin Industrial Park.

Digital technologies have taken root in Juye, giving rise to new professions. To date, 16 small technology courtyards and 15 farmer training bases have been established in the county, cultivating 12,000 new professional farmers. This has created a workforce of new farmers who are skilled in technology and management, improving efficiency and saving over 22 million yuan in agricultural costs throughout the county. (Edited by Xie Zhenzhen)

With the widespread application of advanced agricultural technologies, life has become easier for farmers in Longgu town, Juye county, Heze, Shandong. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]